Evaluating and incorporating resistance to important diseases and pests beta from crop wild relatives - increased host-plant resistant sources or alternative sources of resistance are needed against…

Evaluating and incorporating resistance to important diseases and pests beta from crop wild relatives - increased host-plant resistant sources or alternative sources of resistance are needed against important sugar beet diseases including root maggot, root aphid, beet cyst nematode, rhizomania, rhizoctonia crown and root ROT, root rotting complex, curly top virus, beet western and other yellowing viruses, and cercospora leaf-spot. The sugar beet crop germplasm committee (CGC) has coordinated evaluations in these areas in the past, and is currently evaluating 20-30 PL accessions with funding from npgs, which was received last year. If the U.S. Sugar industry is going to remain competitive in the face of global competition, IT is paramount that the genetic resources available in our USDA-ARS npgs be exploited for resistance to these pests and diseases, and used to form an expanded germplasm base in commercial varieties. Cultivated beets and crop wild relatives from the USDA-ARS national plant germplasm system (npgs) will be screened and incorporated into germplasm enhanced for resistance to important sugar beet diseases.